Windows 10 running hard disk at 100%

Were this computer older and with fewer resources I would have been panicking at the 100% disk usage on Windows 10. It would crash the computer. Not a good look or feel. It happened after the recent update. This morning I have had to have a good look at it then work out a plan. I never go about things like this without having some steps to follow. Using my computer to search was out of the question so I searched on my iPad. Pays to have access to another device sometimes.

I found the tips on cleverfiles to be helpful. There are sites with similar information but this one made it very clear.

I looked at my performance monitor and Search and Cortana were taking up too much disk I/O. I restarted the computer, disabled search in the process, restarted and that did nothing. Did not remove the search at all. Win 10 does as it pleases sometimes.

I noticed Skype was using resources. I don’t use Skype and hadn’t installed it. I removed it. There was an improvement.

Chrome has been having issues with Windows 10 for a while. They do not play nicely together anymore. I ran it Win 8 compatible but that was not something I could try today because it was blocked out so I am on Edge. It uses fewer resources.

Now my computer is running a lot better but still shoots up to 100% disk usage. I have a malware fighter so I don’t think that is the issue.

I am hoping the next update form Windows will resolve this. Edge is using up a lot of RAM in content processing. Why? Ditto Radeon setting. I’ll try Firefox tomorrow to see if that helps but I have , at least, got myself out of the emergency situation . Pretty silly in 2020 when things should be sorted by now.

Windows 10 Tips and Tricks

I can certainly identify with TechGumbo. More than once I have wiped Windows off my desktop or laptop and been more than happy to install Linux. This current version of Windows 10 is very likeable , though, and has some good features. It runs very smoothly, it is less interfering and less prone to trouble. The tips TechGumbo is offering are good ones which you can use and may well need. I needed that keyboard with the emojis! How are you supposed to survive on the Net without emojis!? 😁 The comparative shopping is a good idea too and Edge is certainly a better browser than any other Windows browser because it works with people and not against them. Print to PDF is also handy to know because it saves space and produces smaller files for emailing and sharing. I use that feature a lot. I am sure you’ll find something which helps you here because they are all tips based on user experience.

Windows keyboard shortcuts

You aren’t going to remember all of the keyboard shortcuts for an operating system. Most people know the CTRL-C   CTRL-V shortcuts for copy and paste. If you learned those, you can learn others and it’s a matter of prioritising. Choose the ones you want to know and would help you and learn them one at a time. In the end you’ll know quite a few and some are better than none . There are times when you need to know keyboard shortcuts because it is the only way you can access the screen. Other times it’s good to know them because it just makes things quicker. g-Post has a complete list of Windows 10 shortcuts.

One Note 2016

The new 2016 version of OneNote comes free now with Windows 10 which is a real bonus if you haven’t used it before but it has been stripped down to perform more like a tablet app rather than a fully functional version of what used to be a purchased piece of software. I own  OneNote 2007 and have used it a lot but it won’t work now the new free version is on my computer. I cannot find it and I cannot reload it. Windows 10 offers to repair or remove which isn’t a lot of help. End of complaint. I have just started to use the new OneNote because it is a very handy app for planning and organising and it does help me to set things out clearly and logically so that I have all the information, pictures, resource links and ideas together in one place. If you don’t know it , give it a try.  You can add Onetastic or just Onecalendar which increase the functionality of OneNote.  They too are free. The Microsoft OneNote site gives more information.

P.S. It is 2 hours later and since I wrote this post my 2007 version of OneNote now can open and access the numerous  .one files I had saved. Now I have the benefit of both worlds and thank Windows 10 for hearing my thoughts and taking action.

Customise Windows 10 Lock screen

So why hadn’t I worked this out before? I hated that picture of the rocks and bit of ocean. The lavender field they changed it to wasn’t so bad. I have now customised my Windows 10 lock screen to one of my own images. It’s easy.

Click on the start button bottom left.

Select settings

Select Personalisation

Select Lock screen in the left hand column

Select Picture in the drop down menu under the picture of your lock screen

Select one of Windows 10’s pictures or browse for one of your own.

Done.